HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11123, 24 July 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

The Vestry in presenting their annual report and balance to the parishioners meeting last evening disclaimed any credit for the satisfactory result, which was mainly due to the untiring energy of the Vicar and curate, assisted by the gradually increasing numbers of Church people who have' made their homes in this' favored district. Dealing with the two items which are the basis of parish finance, the report showed the following comparison : — Pew rents collected 1906-7 £25.-5 4s 4d, 1905-6 £218 4s 4d, increase £35) pew rents unpaid £136 7s 8d; gene, ral offertories, including subscriptions 1906-7, £422 16s, do. 1905-6, £390 10s 2d', increase £32 ss. The officers had seen no reason during the past year to resort to any questionable means of augmenting the parish finance. There had been a gradual improvement in the Church prosperity, though the Vestry with the limited means at their disposal had been unable to go as far as their feelings prompt, ed them. The Vestry reiterated their remarks of previous years as to the satisfactory manner in which the essentialpart of the Church service was carried out by Mr Sidebottom and his efficient choir, and could not allow the gratuitous services of the ladies, and gentlemen forming the choir to be passed o.ver without a cordial vote of thanks. ' The aid to missions as in past years had been literally responded to by the parishioners. In this commendable part of their Christian life there were some earnest workers and through their zeal the parish, as a community, had received credit. The matter of Church extension, which had engaged the attention of the Vestry for the past two years, was in a fair way to consummation so far as the. initiatory steps were concerned. On June! 16th last, advantage was taken of the memorable occasion of the Jubilee of the Constitution of the Church in New Zealand, to solicit aid from the Parishioners for this wprthy arid necessary object in the shape of an offertory. The result reached the most sanguine expectations, being £600 in cash, and £403 lis 6d in promises, extending over a few years. Your officers, in view "of the liberal response to the call, being satisfied' that the parishioners generally recognised l the' necessity of Church extension, have instructed an architect to prepare plans and specifications for a brick building to cost about £5000, and have further called for tenders to be opened on the" 2nd August next for the removing of the eastern: portion of the present Church and adding it to the. present schoolroom. Reference was macie .to the appointment of the Rev. Mr Wright as curate as a step in the right direction, and the inauguration of services at Mangapapa and Kaiti, at both of Which places the Vicar and Mr Wright, with other helpers, had been enabled to attract ; fair congregations. Thanks were returned to -the Revs. H. Williams, ; F. W. Chatterton, Cockerill and Hamilton for their kind assistance on many occasions. y .: : The balance sheet showed receipts, including credit balance of £106 from last year, £957. The items were pew rents £253, offertories ' £422, offertories for Maori mission £8 2s id, Melanesian mission £5 19s, Chinese famine fund £26 ss, subscriptions to stipend fund £3 12s, •receipts from Maori "mission £10 Bs, Melanesian mission £2 9s, Church Society £12 15s, other receipts £105. The expenditure totalled £819 4s 2d, and included £72 paid to missions, the' credit balance was £137 16s 4d.

The 'Vicar reviewing the -work of the past year" placed in the forefront the work amongst the young. The -Sunday school in connection with the "central church had grown in a marked degree during the year. -/The present schoolroom had become too small for teaching purposes, arid five large classes were taken each Sunday in the Church. They would be glad when the enlarged school hall was accomplished. An effort was being made to carry on a morning session of the Sunday school; it had not, however, been a success, and he was seriously thinking of closing it. He was glad to report that a Sunday school had been opened at Kaiti under the charge of Rev. H. N. Wright. The superintendent reported a capital membership roll, and nearly co-operation of many parents. The teachers in both schools had earned his deepest gratitude ; the clergy regarded them as valued colleagues iri the work of the Church. : Referring to the weekly Bible classes at' the State schools he said: It is early yet to guage the influence of this work, but at least we may say that in our district the black stain of an entirely secular education in the schools has been removed. Let us see to it that- the stain never returns. ; Dealing with Church extension in the suburbs, the Vicar said: During. the past year an important, step in Church extension was taken in holding Sunday evening services in the State schools, at Mangapapa and Kaiti. The population in each place is scattered ana comparatively small. 'We see, however, that these suburbs are destined to. become large centres in. the near future, and steps are already being taken to secure land and erect Church halls. - At Mangapapa a suitable 'section has been purchased, and as soon as the amount due on it is procured,! a "building will be erected. The Kaiti Committee are now seeking for a_. suitable site. • I trust we may , early report success. To the residents in either suburb ' we have to say that whilst we fully recognise that these are the days of small things, the clergy are disappointed with the attendance and general interest in the Services. The winter season here at times is not conducive to church-going, but a small sacrifice of comfort occasionally will do no one -any harm. The clergy as"k for" and expect more interest in "the Church on the part of suburban residents. The'subject of Church extension led to the enlarging of the central Parish Church. The steady growth in the congregation attending Trinity Church led the Vestry some considerable time ago to broach the question of enlargement. The Jubilee of the Church in this Province suggested a seasonable opportunity for bringing the matter to a head. The jubilee offering in cash and promises had enabled the Vestry to take a definite step forward. He appealed to those who, so far. had 1 , in all sincerity, been against the whole scheme. "We are on the threshold of a new era in our parish life. Let the people of this Diocese and Dominion behold the pleasing sight of a parish, whose members stand loyally, shoulder to shoulder, in the great work of the Church's advanceriient." The cause of missions in the colony and foreign parts had not been lost sight of in the parish during the year. If, 'however, attendance at the missionary meetings were a sign of interest, he could not congratulate the parish on its work for Foreign Missions. A little band of members reiriairied steadfast in obeying the last command of the Divine Head of the Church. Some, no doubt, were interested who did not attend. It was earnestly hoped that Church people would awaken to a sense of their responsibility. He was hoping to set the Parochial Missionary Association afloat again very shortly. , Finance : The Churchwardens' statement as to the financial standing of the parish spoke for itself, and he forbore from touching upon this aspect of the year's work. He congratulated the parish, however, upon having wardens and vestrymen who never spared themselves in watching the Church s material interests. Warm thanks were returned the Rev. Wright and other resident clergy, the members of the choir, and other workers, and the Vicar's report concluded: "Now, as we enter together the portals of another year, what shall I say to you? There are great works awaiting us here as Church, members; let there be no slack hand to mar the works. I speak not now of material works alone, but of the general upbuilding of our life parochial. The young must be taught to choose the uetter part; the growing youth, with their warm, generous impulses', must feel that the Church is their spiritual home, that her members desire their welfare. The weaker brethren, the disappointed, desSorident souls must be built up in -the atholic Faith. The clergy will do their part, they plead for your -co-operation. Thus only will true life and progress be maintained."

The Mangapapa report, presented by Mr W. E. Akroyd, secretary, stated that services were started on October 16, 1906, and had been continued weekly with an average moderate attendance. The committee had shown faith in the future of church extension at Mangapapa by securing on satisfactory terms a half-acre section well situated on the main road near Kirktown. Thanks were' accorded to Mr J. H. Gittos for his valuable assistance in providing for the musical portion of the services and to the clergy and laymen who had assisted in maintaining regular services. The Kaiti report presented by Mr Fyson, secretary, stated that services were started on March 3, and had been fairly well attendedt Acknowledgement was made of various gifts and of the services of Mesdames Baty and Burdett, in presiding at the organ,

The Sunday school report presented by Mr G. H. Lysnar, superintendent, stated the roll now totalled 239. The average attendance had been 138 as against 114 for last year. The Rev. Wright also presented a report on the Kaiti Sunday school.